Material handling device



Nov. 16, 1965 Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 H. D. ALDREDGE ETAL MATERIALHANDLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z PW M Nov. 16, 1965 D, ALDREDGE ETAL3,217,913

I MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS im d w 16, 1965 H. D. ALDREDGE ETAL 3,217,913

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3E15 Ej BYjjpmwpwm United States Patent 3,217,913 MATERIAL HANDLINGDEVICE Howard D. Aldredge and Robert L. Aldredge, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to Container Service Company, Inc., a

corporation of Ohio Continuation of application Ser. No. 847,147, Oct.19,

1959. This application Nov. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 237,436 8 Claims. (Cl.214-302) This invention relates to material handling equipment, morespecifically to lift and dump apparatus, and. is a continuation ofco-pending application Serial No. 847,147, filed October 19, 1959 andnow abandoned. It procides improvements in equipment particularlyapplicable to handling and removal of waste materials and will bedescribed herein with reference thereto. However, it will be obvioustherefrom to those versed in the art that the application of theinvention is not so limited, nor is such intended.

Waste and waste removal is a serious problem in commercial andindustrial installations. The waste accumulates so rapidly and in suchlarge amounts that manual handling and removal thereof is quiteinconvenient, expensive, and even impossible in some instances.

A step in the right direction has been achieved by a prior invention,shown in US. Letters Patent 2,885,101, providing for front loading liftand dump apparatus on large refuse trucks. In using such apparatus,large waste receptacles are placed at strategic locations. The truckincorporating this lift and dump apparatus is driven up to thereceptacle and automatically coupled thereto without need for the driverto leave the truck. By energizinz suitable controls in the truck thelift apparatus is energized to lift the receptacle and dump its contentsin a body attached to the truck. On reversing the controls thereceptacle is returned to its proper location. The truck is then backedaway and moved on to the next receptacle. While this prior art lift anddump apparatus has been successful in solving many of the problems inthe particular art, its cost and complexity has been reduced by thepresent apparatus.

The presently disclosed lift and dump apparatus is more simple, morecompact, and can be readily applied to a modern truck chassis withoutcomplication and without creation of lateral protrusions which causetrafiic hazards. In its preferred form the invention provides a veryeffective one arm front loader unit which offers marked contrast to theprior art structure. While this apparatus is advantageously applicableto a waste disposal truck and will be described with reference thereto,it can be easily applied to any fixed or mobile installation withoutneed for specialized accessories. A feature of the invention is theimproved control system employed which enables a lateral shift of itsoperating mechanism from a stored to a functional position.

A primary object of the invention is to provide material handlingequipment which is more economical to fabricate, more efiicient andsatisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications andunlikely to get out of repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide carrier units withimproved front loading equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and simplifiedlift and dump apparatus employing a single arm as its operative supportmember.

A further object of the invention is to provide lift apparatus which hassimplified and more flexible control structure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide waste disposaltrucks and similarly applied units with improved means for automaticengaging, lifting and dump ing procedures.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel lift and dumpapparatus particularly applicable to waste disposal trucks as well asother material handling units.

Another object of the invention is to provide simplified lift and dumpapparatus which can be selectively applied to stationary or mobile unitsin a simple conventional manner.

An additional object of the invention is. to provide lift and dumpapparatus possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the means and mode of operation hereindescribed.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as .hereinafterdescribed or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or theirequivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviouslynot necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a waste disposal truck incorporating thelift and dump apparatus of the invention as a front loading unit,illustrating the advance of the truck to automatically couple to a wastereceptacle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention apparatus inposition to lift the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the receptacle engagingapparatus provided;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the invention apparatusin an elevated position ready to dump the contents of the wastereceptacle;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the invention apparatus in adumping position;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the truck of FIG. 1 showing controlsfor the lift and dump apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a detail showing the controls of FIG. 6 in a positioncorresponding to a stored position of the lift arm employed;

FIG. 8 shows the controls of FIG. 6 in a position corresponding to anoperating position of the lift arm; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along theline 99 of FIG. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

As shown, the apparatus is embodied in a waste disposal truck as frontloading equipment. The truck includes a chassis 1 mounting a cab 2 toits forward end and a body P to its rear end. A hearing tube 3 is fixedtransversely of the chassis immediately to the rear of the cab. Withinthe tube 3 and inbearing relation thereto, is a hydraulic cylinder 4which projects from the tube to either end. A right angled bracket 5 isfixed to the tube 3 so that one arm 6 thereof will overlie the tube 3and project outwardly therefrom in an axial sense toward the left sideof the chassis 1. The other arm 7 of the bracket 5 vertically dependsfrom the projected extremity of the arm 6. A piston and rod assembly 8fixed to the arm 7 projects axially within the cylinder 4 to providerelatively sealed chambers in the cylinder to either side of the piston.

A tubular lift arm 11 disposed generally parallel to the right side ofthe cab and chassis has a short tubular projection 12 at right angles toits inner end which is fixed to the right end of the cylinder 4.Suitable controls are provided in the cab 2 and connected with thecylinder 4 to selectively introduce fluid to either side of the pistontherein in the conventional manner while evacuating fluid from the otherside to cause the cylinder to move inwardly toward the arm 7 to the leftside of the cab and chassis or outwardly to the right side of the caband chassis. FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates cylinder 4 3 moved to aposition adjacent the arm 7 which causes the lift arm 11 to be movedinwardly within the lateral extremities of the cab 2 to avoidobjectionable protrusions when the lift arm is not in use.

A sleeve fixed about the end of cylinder 4 adjacent the bracket arm 7has a bifurcated arm 13 connected integrally therewith to projectrearwardly of the chassis to the left side thereof. The projection 12 atthe other end of cylinder 4 has a similar arm 13 fixed thereto toproject rearwardly at the right side of the chassis parallel to theother arm 13. The rearwardly projected bifurcated extremity of each arm13 is bridged by a transverse pivot pin 14 pivotally mounting agenerally U-shaped joint member 15 the legs of which are projectedrearwardly thereby in generally vertically spaced relation. Thevertically spaced legs of each member 15 are connected by a pivot pin 16which extends through and pivotally connects to the extremity of apiston rod 17 projected from a hydraulic cylinder 18 rearwardly thereof.The rearmost end of each cylinder 18 has a projected bracket 19 disposedbetween the vertically spaced arms of a joint member 20 and pivotedthereto by a vertical pin'21 connecting therebetween. Each joint member20 is rotatably mounted for movement in a vertical plane on a bracket 22projected from either side of the chassis. A piston is provided withineach cylinder 18 connected to the appropriate piston rod 17. Suitablecontrols are connected from the cab 2 to the cylinders 18 to move thepistons therein to selectively project the rods 17 or retract them in aconventional manner. It should be particularly noted that the structuredescribed provides for both vertical and lateral pivoting of thecylinders 18 relative the chassis 1, a universal connection beingprovided to either end thereof.

The lift arm 11 is moved upwardly and then inwardly relative to theright side of cab 2 when not in use. The arm 11, when not in use, istherefore stored in a vertical position behind the cab 2. The cylinder 4is both rotatably and axially movable in the tube 3 and the lift arm 11is fixed thereto for unison movement therewith. By operation of suitablecontrols in the cab 2, as previously described, the arm 11 may be movedoutwardly to clear the right side of cab 2. By further operation of thepistons in the cylinders 18, the cylinder 4 may be rotated to move thearm 11 down to a generally horizontal forwardly projecting position atthe right side of the cab for engagement with a receptacle R. Thelateral shift of the lift arm 11 is accommodated by the universal typeconnection to either end of cylinders 18.

The projected extremity of the lift arm 11 has a short tubular portion24 at right angles to its outer end projected toward the left side ofthe cab 2. A shaft 25 is fixed therein (as for example by welding) andprojects therefrom in axial alignment therewith, toward the left side ofthe cab. A sleeve 26, coextensive in length with the projecting portionof shaft 25, is rotatably mounted thereon. A pair of radially projectingarms 27 are respectively fixed to the sleeve 26 in parallel spacedrelation and are substantially aligned with the right and left sides ofthe cab. The inner end of each arm 27 is bifurcated, the furcationsbeing fixed to the sleeve 26 in spaced relation. Slots 28 formed insleeve 26 provide openings through which spaced brackets 29, welded orotherwise fixed to the shaft 25, project past the outer surface of thesleeve 26.

Secured to the projected extremity of each arm 27 is a plate 30 having arelatively inclined surface on its upper and forward edge. A furtherplate member 32 is pivoted at 33 to each plate 30, forming therewith agenerally V-shaped notch 31. Secured to each plate member 32 is a stopmember 32' which normally abuts a portion of the associated plate 30 tolimit outward pivoting of the member 32 relative thereto. Below thepivot 33 the plate 32 carries a dependent projection 34 which isconnected to the forward end of the control link 37 by a pin and slotarrangement 35-36 respectively.

The pin 35 normally engages link 37 to the forward end of slot 36 inwhich instance the slot is generally parallel to arm 27. The remainderof link 37 extends rearwardly and upwardly through the furcations of theassociated arm 27 and is pivotally connected to the end of an associatedbracket 29 projecting outwardly from shaft 25 through the slot 28 andsleeve 26. The upper and forward extremity or apex of each member 32 hasa rectangular projection directed to project into the notch 31 when link37 is in its normal position (FIGS. 1 through 4).

A control arm 39 parallel to the tubular projection 24 on the lift arm11 is fixed at one end to the sleeve 26 and terminates at its other endin a generally L- shaped plate 40, one end of which is pivoted on theouter side of the arm 11 concentric with the portion 24. A hydrauliccylinder 41 is pivotally connected to the underside of arm 11 by meansof bracket 42. The piston rod 43 of cylinder 41 is pivotally connectedto the other end of the plate 40. Suitable conventional controls areprovided in the cab 2 operatively connected to cylinder 41 forcontrolling operation of the rod 43 so as to pivot plate 40 and, throughthe medium of control arm 39, the sleeve 26.

Since plate 40, arm 39 and sleeve 26 are integrally connected,projection of the rod 43 will cause counterclockwise rotation of sleeve26 and the connected arms 27 about the shaft 25 which shaft serves asthe pivot. Since the position of shaft 25 relative arm 11 is fixed, theposition of the brackets 29 relative the arm 11 remains fixed.

The embodiment of the invention thus illustrated is employed andfunctions as follows. As mentioned previously, the truck will travelwith the lift arm 11 elevated and retracted in to the right side of thecab 2. It should be noted there is no arm to the left side of the cab toobstruct the vision of the driver or his access to the cab. As the truckapproaches a waste receptacle the driver energizes suitable controls inthe cab to axially shift the cylinder 4 and displace the arm 11outwardly of the right side of the cab. This axial shift of the cylinder4 is accommodated by the universal joint type connections between thecylinders 18 and the associated arms 13 and brackets 22 which enable alateral angular disposition of the cylinders.

Thus, in summary of the structural arrangement, it is readily observedthat tubular portion 24 is integrally connected to shaft 25. Alsoconnected to shaft 25 are brackets 29 which carry links 37 which linksare connected to plate members 32 by means of pins and slot connections35 and 36. The sleeve 26 is rotatably mounted on shaft 25 and has arms27 and control arm 39 connected integrally therewith. The arms 27 haveplates 30 connected therewith. The plates 30' are pivotally connected tothe plate members 32. Thus it is seen that plate members 32 areconnected to both links 37 and arms 27. Therefore, when the piston 43 isenergized (which is when the receptacle has been carried to the packedunit of the truck) it causes the sleeve 26 to rotate thereby causingmovement of arms 27, plates 30, and plate members 32. But since platemembers 32 are constrained by brackets 29 which carry links 37, theplate members 32 are confined to movement along the slots 36 in links37. Upon reaching the end of slots 36, the pins 35 engage the inner endsof the slots 36, which engagement causes plate members 32 to rotatecounterclockwise about their pivot points 33 (as viewed in FIGURE 1) andthereby close the notch 31 substantially as shown in FIGURE 5.

In order to engage the receptacle, the driver actuates suitable controlsin the cab 2 to retract the pistons in cylinders 18 pivoting arms 13upwardly to rotate cylinder 4 forwardly and move the arm 11 down. Itwill be noted that the receptacle R shown in the drawings has lugs L asits respective ends. The lift arm 11 is depressed so the truck can movethe projected arms 27 to dispose their notches 31 under the lugs. Thedriver is now in position to lift the receptacle and dump its contents.The truck having been properly positioned, the controls for thecylinders 18 are reversed to project the piston rods 17, moving the arms13 downwardly thereby to rotate the cylinder 4 and thereby move the liftarm upwardly of the cab. As the lift arm 11 moves up, the receptacle issecurely seated by its lugs in the notches 31 of arms 27. As the arm 11moves the receptacle up to a position over the cab 2, seen in FIG. 4 ofthe drawings, the driver of the truck energizes suitable controls tomove the piston in cylinder 41 to project the piston rod 43. Rod 43pivots the plate 40 in a counter-clockwise direction to rotate theconnected sleeve 26 through the medium of the connecting control arm 39*to move the arms 27 to turn the receptacle over to the packer unit ofthe truck. By this means, the receptacle is being inverted to dump itscontents. The sleeve 26 and connected arms 27 rotate on shaft 25relative the fixed position of the brackets 29. This causes a gradualshortening of the distance between the brackets 29 and control pins 35.As the arms 27 carry their receptacle towards and inverted position thedistance between brackets 29 and pins 35 is so short that the inner oropposite ends of slots 36 in links 37 engage the control pins 35 andautomatically pivot the members 32 counter-clockwise. The projections 38thereon thereupon close over the container lugs I in the notches 31.Thus relationship of the control links 37 to the plates 32 is such thaton predetermined rotation of the sleeve 26 the links 37 will pivot themembers 32 to retain the container in the notches 31 of the arms 27. Asthe plates 32 move in their counter-clockwise direction they engage thelugs L and thereby pivot the lugs and the associated containers intopositive alignment with the side edge of the notch 31 as defined by thelowered portion of the inclined surface in plate 30. Rotation of theplates members 32 therefore not only clamps the container throughengagement with the lugs L, but simultaneously therewith rotates thelugs L and the associated container into parallel alignment with thesurface forming the lower part of the notch 31. Thus as movement of thelift arm is completed, the receptacle is completely inverted, andclamped firmly to the arms 27. In the lifting process, the normalengagement of stops 32 on members 32 with the limiting portions on thedependent extremities of arms 27 assures positive control of thecontainer and a precisely controlled dumping operation.

The container having been emptied, by reversal of the appropriatecontrols, the driver moves the lift arm downwardly, rotates the sleeve26 and arms 27 to their normal forwardly projected positions to returnthe receptacle to its unpright position and lowers the receptacle to theground. The lift arm 11 is depressed sufiiciently to clear the lugs onthe receptacle, backed oflf, and its controls operated to elevate thelift arm once more and retract it in to the right side of the cab. Inthis way the lift and dump apparatus will create no objectionableprotrusions which would provide traffic hazard on movement of the truckto succeeding receptacles.

It will be recognized from the above that lift and dump apparatus hasbeen provided with is highly efficient and extremely flexible inapplication. The novel one arm lift, front loading equipment providedcan be easily fabricated and mounted to any type support to readilyadapt to a variety of material handling applications.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. Lift and dump apparatus comprising, a chassis, bearing means thereon,a single lift arm having a pivotal connection with said bearing means,power means for selectively shifting said lift arm between. parallelplanes respectively within the boundary of said chassis and spacedoutwardly therefrom, and link means interposed between said chassis andsaid lift arm to provide for pivoting of said lift arm in said parallel.planes and including spaced universal connections to accommodate theshift of said arm between said parallel planes by said power means.

2. Lift and dump apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift armhas generally cylindrical means projecting from one end thereof forpivotally mounting said arm to said bearing means and said. link meansincluding a pair of parallel brackets mounted on said cylindrical means.

3. Lift and dump apparatus including, a single lift arm, bearing meansfixed to project substantially at right angles to said arm adjacent itsone end, a sleeve rotatable on said bearing means having a pair ofparallel spaced arms projected therefrom, each parallel spaced armincluding gripper means defining recesses therein at their extremities,said gripper means comprising two coacting members, anchor means fixedto said bearing means, one of said coacting members pivotally connectedto both said anchor means and said other coacting member for control ofsaid gripper means whereby in response to a predetermined rotation ofsaid sleeve means on said bearing means said recesses are substantiallyclosed for engaging a container and dumping its contents.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a basechassis, further bearing means pivotally mounting said lift arm on saidchassis and said further bearing means also providing for shifting saidlift arm laterally from a position within the boundary of said chassisto a parallel position spaced outwardly of said chassis.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one coactingmember is pivotally connected to said anchor means by a lost motionconnection and the said other coacting member is fixedly connected tosaid parallel spaced arms.

6. Lifting and dumping apparatus for one arm loading including aportable chassis, bearing means transversely mounted on said chassis, asingle elongated lift arm having a transversely extending member at oneend thereof and container engaging apparatus at the other end thereof,said transversely extending member interengaged with said bearing meansfor relative rotational and lateral shifting motions, power means forshifting said arm between a stored position adjacent said chassis and anoperative position outwardly spaced of said chassis, power means on saidchassis for rotating said arm in a vertical plane, whereby the arm ismoved upwardly in said vertical plane over said chassis for dumping thecontents from a container carried by said arm into the chassis.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 characterized in that saidbearing means includes a cylinder element and said transverselyextending member includes a piston telescoping in said cylinder, saidpiston being movable axially relative to the cylinder, said means forrotating said lift arm including arm means fixed to said piston.

8. Lifting and dumping apparatus constructed for one arm loadingincluding a truck chassis, bearing means transversely mounted to saidchassis, said bearing means comprising telescoping piston and cylinderelements one of which is fixed to said chassis and the other of which ismovable axially relative to said one element, an elongated lift armdisposed longitudinally of said chassis on one side thereof and having aportion thereof fixed to said relatively movable element of said bearingmeans, said lift arm and said other element of said bearing means beingmounted for relative rotational and lateral motions, means forintroducing pressure fluid into said bearing means to eiTect lateralshifting motion of said lift arm between a stored position closelyadjacent said chassis and an operating position outwardly of saidchassis, apparatus support means mounted on said arm to extendtransversely thereof parallel to said bearing means being spaced apart adistance to enable said support means to extend across one end of saidchassis, and means for rocking said lift arm, said last named meansincluding arm elements fixed to said axially movable element of saidbearing means at spaced apart locations on opposite sides of saidchassis, and individual pressure fluid actuated devices connected tosaid elements and based on said chassis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,951 6/ 1925Perkins 214-47 2,179,446 11/ 1939 Dahlstrom. 2,501,112 3/1950 Webster214-78 2,754,016 7/ 1956 Anderson. 2,772,766 12/ 1956 Kellam. 2,831,5894/1958 Way. 2,885,101 5/1959 Aldredge 214-302 2,933,209 4/1960 Tidwell214-78 2,933,210 4/1960 Dye 214-302 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

1. LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS COMPRISING, A CHASSIS, BEARING MEANS THEREON,A SINGLE LIFT ARM HAVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID BEARING MEANS,POWER MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SHIFTING SAID LIFT ARM BETWEEN PARALLELPLANES RESPECTIVELY WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF SAID CHASSIS AND SPACEDOUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND LINK MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHASSIS ANDSAID LIFT ARM TO PROVIDE FOR PIVOTING OF SAID LIFT ARM IN SAID PARALLELPLANES AND INCLUDING SPACED UNIVERSAL CONNECTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THESHIFT OF SAID ARM BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL PLANES BY SAID POWER MEANS.